Councillors from the party had stepped in to collect rubbish in some parts of Derby - including Alvaston, Boulton and Mackworth - over the festive period, after Derby City Council-organised collections ended in 2014.

Today, UKIP confirmed it has no plans to carry on with the service after learning a waste carriers licence is needed. Failure to operate without one could land them with a £5,000 fine under Environmental Agency legislation.

UKIP councillor for Alvaston, Alan Graves said: “I was a bit nervous about doing it this year after we were threatened with being reported last year.

“We haven’t got a waste carriers licence and there is a £5,000 fine if we get caught without one.

UKIP city councillor Alan Graves, who represents Alvaston

“Some people have suggested that we get a waste carriers licence, but all we’re doing is picking up bags of rubbish and providing a service.”

Councillor Graves and fellow UKIP member councillor John Evans held a collection in Alvaston on December 28 last year.

But many families will be left disappointed this year.

Councillor Graves said: “Lots of people have asked if we were doing it again this year.

A council spokesman said extra waste will be collected for the first two weeks of bin collections in January. For your first black bin day, you can leave up to three extra bags of waste out for the council to collect.

While for your first blue bin day in January, you may leave extra boxes or clear plastic bags of recyclable materials.